Valve device

ABSTRACT

A valve device is provided, by which a reverse flow can be avoided without being restricted by pipe arrangement and without bending a primary piping, thereby preventing a defective operation due to a dynamic pressure from occurring. An inlet side inner passage includes a bent part (formed with an inlet side lateral inner passage  21  and the inlet side longitudinal inner passage  22 ) in a valve housing  11 , that is, the inner passage formed in the valve housing  11  takes charge of such a bent part required in a primary piping to avoid a reverse flow.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2003-300962 filed on Aug. 26, 2003, and to Japanese PCT Application No.PCT/JP2004/010628 filed on Jul. 26, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a valve device. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a valve device such as an electric operatedvalve or electromagnetic valve, which is used on a high pressurecondition, for example, in a supercritical cycle with carbon dioxiderefrigerant.

BACKGROUND ART

As a valve device such as an electromagnetic valve or electric operatedvalve for channel selecting or flow rate controlling, a valve device hasbeen proposed, in which a valve port is formed in a valve housing, avalve element for opening and closing the valve port when the valveelement moves in an axial direction thereof is provided in the valvehousing, the valve element includes a valve shaft supported slidably inthe axial direction by the valve housing at one side of the valveelement, the valve shaft is connected to driving means such as anelectromagnetic solenoid and electric motor for driving the valveelement, inlet and outlet side joint ports are opened at an outersurface of the valve housing, and one side of the valve portcommunicates with the inlet side joint port through an inlet side innerpassage formed in the valve housing, while an opposite side of the valveport communicates with the outlet side joint port through an outlet sideinner passage formed in the valve housing (for example, see PatentPublication 1).

Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2000-193101.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

In a conventional valve device, because of condition or restriction ofpiping, if a reverse flow of fluid flowing from an outlet side jointport to an inlet side joint port occurs, when the valve is opened, adynamic pressure acts on an end of a valve element where the valveelement is seated on a valve seat around a valve port (that is, on afree end situated on a side reverse to a side where a valve shaft islocated). Therefore, a shaft core of the valve element is inclined by asmuch as a clearance at a support part of the slidable valve shaftsupported by the valve housing, resulting in that the valve elementcannot be precisely seated on the valve seat when the valve is closed,thereby causing a defective operation.

In particular, on a condition that a high pressure is used, in which arefrigerant pressure at a high pressure side (i.e. inlet side) exceeds acritical pressure of the refrigerant, for example, in a supercriticalcycle with carbon dioxide refrigerant, the influence due to the dynamicpressure described above becomes significant.

Moreover, in a supercritical cycle, the thickness of a pipe or jointmust be increased because of high pressure, then the bending machiningof these components becomes difficult to do, resulting in that therestriction of piping increases, and since it is difficult to connect aprimary piping (i.e. first piping) to an inlet side joint port of thevalve device without bending the primary piping in a use of the valvedevice in its normal posture, therefore a reverse flow of fluid flowingfrom the outlet side joint port to the inlet side joint port tends tohappen.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to solve the aboveproblem and to provide a valve device, by which a reverse flow can beavoided without being restricted by pipe arrangement and without bendinga primary piping, thereby preventing a defective operation due to adynamic pressure from occurring.

Means of Solving the Problems

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is toprovide a valve device (single seat-valve) including:

a valve housing;

an inlet side joint port and an outlet side joint port, both opened atan outer surface of the valve housing;

a valve port formed in the valve housing; and

a valve element formed in the valve housing for opening and closing thevalve port when the valve element moves in an axial direction thereof,the valve element including a valve shaft supported slidably in theaxial direction by the valve housing at one side of the valve element,the valve shaft being connected to driving means for driving the valveelement,

wherein one side of the valve port communicates with the inlet sidejoint port through an inlet side inner passage formed in the valvehousing, while an opposite side of the valve port communicates with theoutlet side joint port through an outlet side inner passage formed inthe valve housing,

wherein the inlet side inner passage includes a bent part in the valvehousing so that a pressure at the inlet side joint port acts on thevalve shaft of the valve element from a lateral direction of the valveshaft.

The present invention is also to provide a valve device (pluralseat-valve) including:

a valve housing;

an inlet side joint port and an outlet side joint port, both opened atan outer surface of the valve housing;

a first valve port and a second valve port, both formed in the valvehousing on the same axis having a distance therebetween in an axialdirection thereof; and

a valve element formed in the valve housing including integrally a firstvalve part for opening and closing the first valve port and a secondvalve part for opening and closing the second valve port when the valveelement moves in an axial direction thereof, the valve element includinga valve shaft supported slidably in the axial direction by the valvehousing at one side of the valve element, the valve shaft beingconnected to driving means for driving the valve element,

wherein each one side of the first and second valve ports communicateswith the inlet side joint port through an inlet side inner passageformed in the valve housing, while each opposite side of the first andsecond valve ports communicates with the outlet side joint port throughan outlet side inner passage formed in the valve housing and the valveelement,

wherein the inlet side inner passage includes a bent part so that apressure at the inlet side joint port acts on between the first valvepart and the second valve part of the valve element.

The present invention is also to provide a valve device (pluralseat-valve) including:

a valve housing;

an inlet side joint port and an outlet side joint port, both opened atan outer surface of the valve housing;

a first valve port and a second valve port, both formed in the valvehousing on the same axis having a distance therebetween in an axialdirection thereof; and

a valve element formed in the valve housing including integrally a firstvalve part for opening and closing the first valve port and a secondvalve part for opening and closing the second valve port when the valveelement moves in an axial direction thereof, the valve element includinga valve shaft supported slidably in the axial direction by the valvehousing at one side of the valve element, the valve shaft beingconnected to driving means for driving the valve element,

wherein each one side of the first and second valve ports communicateswith the inlet side joint port through an inlet side inner passageformed in the valve housing, while each opposite side of the first andsecond valve ports communicates with the outlet side joint port throughan outlet side inner passage formed in the valve housing and the valveelement,

wherein the inlet side inner passage includes a by-pass passage so thata pressure at the inlet side joint port acts on between the first valvepart and the second valve part of the valve element.

Effects of the Invention

According to the valve device of the present invention defined in claim1 or 2, the inlet side inner passage includes the bent part in the valvehousing, that is, the inner passage in the valve housing takes charge ofthe bent part required in a primary piping (i.e. first piping) to avoida reverse flow. Therefore, a reverse flow can be avoided. When the valveis open, a dynamic pressure is prevented from acting on an end of thevalve element. That is, a shaft core of the valve element is preventedfrom inclining, thereby preventing a defective operation from occurring.

According to the valve device of the present invention defined in claim3, since the by-pass passages are provided, the by-pass passages takecharge of the bent part required in a primary piping (i.e. first piping)to avoid a reverse flow. Therefore, a reverse flow can be avoided. Whenthe valve is open, a dynamic pressure is prevented from acting on an endof the valve element. That is, a shaft core of the valve element isprevented from inclining, thereby preventing a defective operation fromoccurring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 1 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in whichthe valve device is applied to an electric operated plural seat-valve.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 2 as another preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along A-A line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 3 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 4 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 5 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 6 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 7 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 8 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 9 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 9 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 10 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,in which the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 11 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,in which the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 12 as a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,in which the valve device is applied to an electric operated pluralseat-valve.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken along B-B line in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 13 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in whichthe valve device is applied to an electric operated single seat-valve.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a hot water supply cycle device using aCO₂ refrigerant in EXAMPLE 14, to which a valve device as an electricoperated single or plural seat-valve according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention is employed.

ABBREVIATION NUMERALS

-   -   10: electric operated plural seat-valve    -   11: valve housing    -   12, 112, 212: inlet side joint port    -   13, 113, 213: outlet side joint port    -   14: inlet joint    -   15: outlet joint    -   16, 116, 216: lower valve chamber    -   17: upper valve chamber    -   18, 118: first valve port    -   19: second valve port    -   21, 61, 74: inlet side lateral inner passage    -   22, 73, 76: inlet side longitudinal inner passage    -   24, 124, 224, 63, 66, 67, 70: outlet side longitudinal inner        passage    -   25, 26, 62, 64, 68, 71: outlet side lateral inner passage    -   30: valve element    -   31: first valve part    -   32: second valve part    -   33: valve shaft    -   40: stepping motor    -   77: valve seat member    -   78: by-pass passage hole    -   300: electric operated single seat-valve    -   311: valve housing    -   312: inlet side joint port    -   313: outlet side joint port    -   314: inlet joint    -   315: outlet joint    -   316: valve chamber    -   318: valve port    -   321: inlet side lateral inner passage    -   322: inlet side longitudinal inner passage    -   324: outlet side longitudinal inner passage    -   325, 326: outlet side lateral inner passage    -   330: valve element    -   333: valve shaft

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionwill be explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Example 1

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 1 of the present invention, in which the valve device is appliedto an electric operated plural seat-valve.

The electric operated plural seat-valve in EXAMPLE 1 is indicated byreference numeral 10 as a whole thereof. The plural seat-valve 10includes a block-shaped valve housing 11. The valve housing 11 isprovided with an inlet side joint port 12 opening at a lower bottomsurface (outer surface) of the valve housing 11 and an outlet side jointport 13 opening at a right side surface (outer surface) of the valvehousing 11. The inlet side joint port 12 is connected to an inlet joint(lower joint) 14 while the outlet side joint port 13 is connected to anoutlet joint (lateral joint) 15.

Inside the valve housing 11, a lower valve chamber 16 and upper valvechamber 17 are formed up and down. A first valve port 18 communicatingwith an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 24 (explained later) isformed at a lower bottom surface of the lower valve chamber 16 while asecond valve port 19 communicating with the upper valve chamber 17 isformed at an upper surface of the lower valve chamber 16. The firstvalve port 18 and the second valve port 19 are arranged being alignedwith each other on the same axis having a distance (corresponding to aheight of the lower valve chamber 16) therebetween in the axialdirection.

A valve shaft-guiding member 20 is fixed being caulked at an upper partof the valve housing 11. The valve shaft-guiding member 20 has a bearinghole 20A passing through in an up-and-down direction (i.e. in the axialdirection), by which a valve shaft 33 of a valve element 30 is supportedslidably in the axial direction.

The valve element 30 includes a lower first valve part 31 for openingand closing the first valve port 18 and an upper second valve part 32for opening and closing the second valve port 19 on the same axis. Whenthe valve element 30 moves in the axial direction thereof, the firstvalve port 18 and the second valve port 19 are simultaneously opened orclosed. A valve shaft 33 is located above the second valve part 32.

Each one side of the respective first and second valve ports 18, 19communicates with the inlet side joint port 12 through the lower valvechamber 16, a lateral hole-shaped (i.e. cave-shaped) inlet side lateralinner passage 21 and a longitudinal hole-shaped (i.e. pit-shaped) inletside longitudinal inner passage 22 formed in the valve housing 11. Theinlet side lateral inner passage 21 is a drill hole drilled from a leftside of the valve housing 11. The lower valve chamber 16 is also formedwith this drill hole. An open end of this drill hole is closed by a plug23. The inlet side longitudinal inner passage 22 is a drill hole drilledfrom a lower bottom surface of the valve housing 11. The inlet sidelongitudinal inner passage 22 communicates with the inlet side jointport 12 at the lower side thereof and communicates with the inlet sidelateral inner passage 21 at an upper end thereof.

The inlet side lateral inner passage 21 and the inlet side longitudinalinner passage 22 form a hook-shaped bent part that connects the inletside joint port 12 to each one side of the respective first and secondvalve ports 18, 19 through the lower valve chamber 16. The inlet sidejoint port 12 and the inlet side longitudinal inner passage 22 arelocated at the left side of the first and second valve ports 18, 19.

An opposite side of the first valve port 18 communicates with the outletside joint port 13 through an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 24and outlet side lateral inner passages 25 and 26 formed by drilling thevalve housing 11. In EXAMPLE 1, the outlet side longitudinal innerpassage 24 and the outlet side lateral inner passages 25 and 26 alsoform a hook-shaped bent part.

An opposite side of the second valve port 19 communicates with the uppervalve chamber 17. An end (i.e. lower end) of the valve element 30 facesthe outlet side longitudinal inner passage 24. A closed-end drill hole34A is formed from an end of the valve element 30. A lateral hole 34Bextending in a radial direction is penetratingly formed at a part of thevalve element 30 where the valve element 30 is located within the uppervalve chamber 17. Therefore, the drill hole 34A and the lateral hole 34Bform an inner passage 34 that connects the upper valve chamber 17 to theoutlet side longitudinal inner passage 24.

A rotor case 41 of a stepping motor 40 is airtightly connected to anupper part of the valve housing 11 by means of welding or the like. Thecan-shaped rotor case 41 includes a cylindrical part 41A and a halfsphere-shaped dome part 41B formed integrally with the cylindrical part41A for closing an upper end of the cylindrical part 41A. The can-shapedrotor case 41 is made of non-magnetic materials such as stainless steelhaving a uniform thickness as a whole.

A rotor 42 is rotatably disposed inside the cylindrical part 41A of therotor case 41. An outer peripheral part of the rotor 42 ismultipole-magnetized. A cylindrical female screw member 43 is fixed tothe center of the rotor 42. The female screw member 43 and the rotor 42are connected rotatably relatively to an upper end 33A of a valve shaft33 of the valve element 30 by a connection member 44, fixing metalfitting 45, collar member 46 and spring 47.

A male screw member 36 having a hollow shaft-shape is fixed to an upperpart of the valve shaft-guiding member 20. The male screw member 36extends in the axial direction (i.e. up-and-down direction), wherein thevalve shaft 33 of the valve element 30 penetrates through a hollow part36A. A male screw 36B is formed on an outer peripheral surface of themale screw member 36. The male screw 36B engages with a female screw 43Aformed on an inner peripheral surface of a female screw member 43. Arotation of the rotor 42 is converted to a linear motion in theup-and-down direction by this screw engagement.

A stator assembly 48 of the stepping motor 40 is mounted to an outerperiphery of the rotor case 41 being positioned by a locking piece 49.The stator assembly 48 includes an outer box 50, stator coils 51situated up and down, a plurality of magnetic pole teeth 52 and electricconnector part 53 and liquid-tightly sealed with a sealing resin 54.

A stopper-holding rod 55 is fixed inside the half sphere-shaped domepart 41B. A spiral guide 56 is attached to the stopper-holding rod 55. Amovable stopper 57 engages with the spiral guide 56.

The movable stopper 57 is kicked and rotated by a pin 58 attached to therotor 42, so that the movable stopper 57 is guided by the spiral guide56 so as to be revolved and moved in the up-and down direction as therotor 42 rotates. Then, the movable stopper 57 abuts against a stopperpart 59 at a lower end of the stopper-holding rod 55 or a stopper part60 at an upper end of the spiral guide 56, thereby restricting therotation of the rotor 42 in a valve-closing direction or in avalve-opening direction.

The stepping motor 40 rotates the rotor 42 with current conduction to astator coil 51. When the rotor 42 rotates, a rotation motion of therotor 42 is converted to a linear motion by screw engagement between thefemale screw 43A and the male screw 36B, so that the rotor 42 is movedin the axial direction (i.e. up-and-down direction) in the rotor case41. This movement of the rotor 42 in the axial direction is transmittedto the valve element 30, so that the valve element 30 moves in the axialdirection (i.e. up-and-down direction).

Therefore, the first valve part 31 of the valve element 30 adjusts anopening rate of the first valve port 18 and the second valve part 32 ofthe valve element 30 adjusts an opening rate of the second valve port19, so that flow rate control for about the same amount is carried outby both of the first valve port 18 and the second valve port 19.

In EXAMPLE 1, the inlet joint 14 is the lower joint and the outlet joint15 is the lateral joint. As mentioned above, the inlet side innerpassage includes the bent part formed with the inlet side lateral innerpassage 21 and the inlet side longitudinal inner passage 22 in the valvehousing 11, that is, the inner passage formed in the valve housing takescharge of such a bent part required in a primary piping (i.e. firstpiping) to avoid a reverse flow. Therefore, even in a pipe arrangementin which a primary piping exists in a lower longitudinal direction and asecondary piping exists in an upper lateral direction, a reverse flowcan be avoided, that is, a pressure at the inlet side joint port 12 actson between the first valve part 31 and the second valve part 32 of thevalve element 30.

Therefore, when the valve is open, a dynamic pressure is prevented fromacting on an end where the valve element 30 is seated on a valve seataround the first valve port 18 (that is, from acting on a free lower endsituated on a side reverse to the side where the valve shaft 33 islocated). That is, a shaft core of the valve element 30 is preventedfrom inclining, thereby preventing a defective operation from occurring.

FIGS. 2-9 show respective examples modified from EXAMPLE 1, in which avalve device according to the present invention is applied to anelectric operated plural seat-valve. In this respect, in FIGS. 2-9, asfor constitutional elements which correspond to the respective elementsshown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 aregiven thereto and their explanations are omitted hereinafter in order toavoid redundancy.

Example 2

In EXAMPLE 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bent part of an inlet side innerpassage is formed with an inlet side lateral inner passage 61 formed byboring and an inlet side longitudinal inner passage 22 formed bydrilling, wherein the inlet side lateral inner passage 61 communicateswith a lower valve chamber 116 formed by boring at one side thereof in arepeated form and communicates with an inlet side longitudinal innerpassage 22 at a lower side thereof. In EXAMPLE 2, an inlet joint 14 is alower joint and an outlet joint 15 is a lateral joint similarly toEXAMPLE 1.

Example 3

In EXAMPLE 3 shown in FIG. 4, an outlet side joint port 13 is located ata higher position, wherein the outlet side joint port 13 communicateswith an upper valve chamber 17 through an outlet side lateral innerpassage 62 formed in a valve housing 11. An outlet side longitudinalinner passage 124 is a hole having a bottom, wherein the outlet sidelongitudinal inner passage 124 communicates with the upper valve chamber17 through an inner passage 34 formed in a valve element 30. In EXAMPLE3, an inlet joint 14 is a lower joint and an outlet joint 15 is alateral joint.

Example 4

In EXAMPLE 4 shown in FIG. 5, the EXAMPLE 3 shown in FIG. 4 is appliedto the EXAMPLE 2 of a boring-type shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In EXAMPLE 4,an inlet joint 14 is a lower joint and an outlet joint 15 is a lateraljoint.

Example 5

In EXAMPLE 5 shown in FIG. 6, an outlet side joint port 113 is opened atan upper surface (outer surface) of a valve housing 11. The outlet sidejoint port 113 communicates with an upper valve chamber 17 through anoutlet side longitudinal inner passage 63 and outlet side lateral innerpassage 64 formed in the valve housing 11. The outlet side longitudinalinner passage 63 and outlet side lateral inner passage 64 are drilledholes, wherein the outlet side lateral inner passage 64 is formed bydrilling from a right side of the valve housing 11 and its open end isclosed by a plug 65.

In EXAMPLE 5, both of an inlet side joint port 12 and the outlet sidejoint port 113 are located at the right side of first and second valveports 18, 19. An inlet side lateral inner passage 21 is formed bydrilling from the right side of the valve housing 11 and its open end isclosed by a plug 23. In EXAMPLE 5, an inlet joint 14 is a lower jointand an outlet joint 15 is an upper joint.

Example 6

In EXAMPLE 6 shown in FIG. 7, an inlet side joint port 112 is opened ata left side surface (outer surface) of a valve housing 11. The inletside joint port 112 communicates with a lower valve chamber 16 throughan inlet side lateral inner passage 61 formed by drilling in the valvehousing.

An outlet side joint port 113 opened at an upper surface of the valvehousing 11 communicates with a lower side of a first valve port 18through an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 67, outlet sidelateral inner passage 68 and outlet side longitudinal inner passage 24formed in the valve housing 11. The outlet side lateral inner passage 68is a drilled hole formed by drilling from the right side of the valvehousing 11 and its open end id closed by a plug 69. In EXAMPLE 6, aninlet joint 14 is a lateral joint and an outlet joint 15 is an upperjoint.

Example 7

In EXAMPLE 7 shown in FIG. 8, an outlet side joint port 213 is opened ata lower bottom surface (outer surface) of a valve housing 11. The outletside joint port 213 communicates with a lower side of a first valve port18 through an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 70, outlet sidelateral inner passage 71 and outlet side longitudinal inner passage 24formed in the valve housing 11. The outlet side longitudinal innerpassage 70 and outlet side lateral inner passage 71 are drilled holes,wherein the outlet side lateral inner passage 71 is formed by drillingfrom the right side of the valve housing 11 and its open end is closedby a plug 72. In EXAMPLE 7, both of an inlet joint 14 and an outletjoint 15 are lower joints.

Example 8

In EXAMPLE 8 shown in FIG. 9, an inlet side joint port 212 is opened atan upper surface (outer surface) of a valve housing 11. The inlet sidejoint port 212 communicates with a lower valve chamber 16 through aninlet side longitudinal inner passage 73 and inlet side lateral innerpassage 74 formed in the valve housing 11. The inlet side longitudinalinner passage 73 and inlet side lateral inner passage 74 are drilledholes, wherein the inlet side lateral inner passage 74 is formed bydrilling from a left side of the valve housing 11 and its open end isclosed by a plug 75. In EXAMPLE 8, both of an inlet joint 14 and anoutlet joint 15 are upper joints.

In every EXAMPLE described above, the inlet side inner passage or theoutlet side inner passage includes the bent part in the valve housing11, that is, the inner passage formed in the valve housing takes chargeof such a bent part required in a primary piping (i.e. first piping) orin a secondary piping to avoid a reverse flow. Therefore, a reverse flowcan be avoided in any pipe arrangement, that is, a pressure at the inletside joint port 12 acts on between the first valve part 31 and thesecond valve part 32 of the valve element 30.

Therefore, when the valve is open, a dynamic pressure is prevented fromacting on an end where the valve element 30 is seated on a valve seataround the first valve port 18. That is, a shaft core of the valveelement 30 is prevented from inclining, thereby preventing a defectiveoperation from occurring.

Examples 9-11

FIGS. 10 and 11 show EXAMPLE 9 in which both of an inlet joint 14 and anoutlet joint 15 are lateral joints. FIG. 12 show EXAMPLE 10 in which aninlet joint 14 is an upper joint and an outlet joint 15 is a lowerjoint. FIG. 13 show EXAMPLE 11 in which an inlet joint 14 is an upperjoint and an outlet joint 15 is a lateral joint.

Example 12

FIGS. 14 and 15 show EXAMPLE 12 as a further example, in which a valvedevice according to the present invention is applied to an electricoperated plural seat-valve. In this respect, in FIGS. 14 and 15, as forconstitutional elements which correspond to the respective elementsshown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 aregiven thereto and their explanations are omitted hereinafter in order toavoid redundancy.

In EXAMPLE 12, an inlet joint 14 is located at a lower side of a valvehousing 11. An inlet side longitudinal inner passage 76 and a lowervalve chamber 216 are formed in the valve housing 11. A valve seatmember 77 for defining a first valve port 118 is fixed between the inletside longitudinal inner passage 76 and the lower valve chamber 216. Anupper side of the first valve port 118 communicates with the lower valvechamber 216 while a lower side of the first valve port 118 communicateswith an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 224 as a hole having abottom formed in the valve seat member 77. The outlet side longitudinalinner passage 224 communicates with an upper valve chamber 17 through aninner passage 34 formed in the valve element 30.

The inlet side longitudinal inner passage 76 communicates with the lowervalve chamber 216 through many by-pass passage holes 78 formed in thevalve seat member 77.

As mentioned above, the inlet side inner passage includes the by-passpassage holes 78, that is, the inner passage in the valve housing takescharge of a bent part required in a primary piping (i.e. first piping)to avoid a reverse flow. Therefore, even in a pipe arrangement in whicha primary piping exists in a lower longitudinal direction and asecondary piping exists in an upper lateral direction, a reverse flowcan be avoided, that is, a pressure at the inlet side joint port 12 actson between the first valve part 31 and the second valve part 32 of thevalve element 30.

Therefore, also in EXAMPLE 12, when the valve is open, a dynamicpressure is prevented from acting on an end where the valve element 30is seated on a valve seat around the first valve port 118 (that is, fromacting on a free lower end situated on a side reverse to the side wherethe valve shaft 33 is located). That is, a shaft core of the valveelement 30 is prevented from inclining, thereby preventing a defectiveoperation from occurring.

Example 13

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a valve device inEXAMPLE 13 of the present invention, in which the valve device isapplied to an electric operated single seat-valve.

The electric operated single seat-valve in EXAMPLE 13 is indicated byreference numeral 300 as a whole thereof. The single seat-valve 300includes a block-shaped valve housing 311. The valve housing 311 isprovided with an inlet side joint port 312 opening at a lower bottomsurface (outer surface) of the valve housing 311 and an outlet sidejoint port 313 opening at a right side surface (outer surface) of thevalve housing 311. The inlet side joint port 312 is connected to aninlet joint (lower joint) 314 while the outlet side joint port 313 isconnected to an outlet joint (lateral joint) 315.

Inside the valve housing 311, a valve chamber 316 is formed. A valveport 318 communicating with an outlet side longitudinal inner passage324 (explained later) is formed at a lower bottom surface of the valvechamber 316.

A valve shaft-guiding member 320 is fixed being caulked at an upper partof the valve housing 311. The valve shaft-guiding member 320 has abearing hole 320A passing through in an up-and-down direction (i.e. inan axial direction), by which a valve shaft 333 of a valve element 330is supported slidably in the axial direction. The valve element 330opens and closes the valve port 318 by its movement in the axialdirection. The valve shaft 333 is formed at an upper side of the valveelement 330.

One side of the valve port 318 communicates with the inlet side jointport 312 through a valve chamber 316, a lateral hole-shaped (i.e.cave-shaped) inlet side lateral inner passage 321 and a longitudinalhole-shaped (i.e. pit-shaped) inlet side longitudinal inner passage 322formed in the valve housing 311. The inlet side lateral inner passage321 is a drill hole drilled from a left side of the valve housing 311.The lower valve chamber 316 is also formed with this drill hole. An openend of this drill hole is closed by a plug 323. The inlet sidelongitudinal inner passage 322 is a drill hole drilled from a lowerbottom surface of the valve housing 311. The inlet side longitudinalinner passage 322 communicates with the inlet side joint port 312 at thelower side thereof and communicates with the inlet side lateral innerpassage 321 at an upper end thereof.

The inlet side lateral inner passage 321 and the inlet side longitudinalinner passage 322 form a hook-shaped bent part that connects the inletside joint port 312 to one side of the valve ports 318 through the lowervalve chamber 316. The inlet side joint port 312 and the inlet sidelongitudinal inner passage 322 are located at the left side of the valveport 18.

An opposite side of the valve port 318 communicates with the outlet sidejoint port 313 through an outlet side longitudinal inner passage 324 andoutlet side lateral inner passages 325 and 326 formed by drilling thevalve housing 311. In EXAMPLE 13, the outlet side longitudinal innerpassage 324 and the outlet side lateral inner passages 325 and 326 alsoform a hook-shaped bent part.

The valve shaft 333 is connected to a rotor 42 of a stepping motor 40. Astructure concerning the stepping motor 40 and a feed screw consistingof a male screw member 36 and a female screw member 43 is the same asthat in the EXAMPLES described above, therefore an explanation thereofis omitted in order to avoid redundancy.

In EXAMPLE 13, the inlet joint 314 is the lower joint and the outletjoint 315 is the lateral joint. As mentioned above, the inlet side innerpassage includes the bent part formed with the inlet side lateral innerpassage 321 and the inlet side longitudinal inner passage 322 in thevalve housing 311, that is, the inner passage formed in the valvehousing takes charge of such a bent part required in a primary piping(i.e. first piping) to avoid a reverse flow. Therefore, even in a pipearrangement in which a primary piping exists in a lower longitudinaldirection and a secondary piping exists in an upper lateral direction, areverse flow can be avoided, that is, a pressure at the inlet side jointport 312 acts on the valve shaft 333 of the valve element 330 from alateral direction of the valve shaft 333.

Therefore, when the valve is open, a dynamic pressure is prevented fromacting on an end where the valve element 330 is seated on a valve seataround the valve port 318 (that is, from acting on a free lower endsituated on a side reverse to the side where the valve shaft 333 islocated). That is, a shaft core of the valve element 330 is preventedfrom inclining, thereby preventing a defective operation from occurring.

As for the electric operated single seat-valve, its modified examplessimilar to those of the electric operated plural seat-valve describedabove are possible and can be put into practice.

Example 14

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a hot water supply cycle device using aCO₂ refrigerant in EXAMPLE 14, in which the electric operated pluralseat-valve 10 or the electric operated single seat-valve 300 describedabove is employed.

The hot water supply cycle device is a heat pump-type hot water supplydevice, in which a CO₂ refrigerant circuit including a compressor 91,gas cooler 92 corresponding to a condenser, electric operated pluralseat-valve 10 or electric operated single seat-valve 300 and evaporator93 is constructed, wherein heat exchange is carried out between hightemperature CO₂ refrigerant and cold water passing through the gascooler 92 so as to supply hot water.

1. A valve device comprising: a valve housing; an inlet side joint portand an outlet side joint port, both opened at an outer surface of thevalve housing; a valve port formed in the valve housing; and a valveelement formed in the valve housing for opening and closing the valveport when the valve element moves in an axial direction thereof, thevalve element including a valve shaft supported slidably in the axialdirection by the valve housing at one side of the valve element, thevalve shaft being connected to driving means for driving the valveelement, wherein one side of the valve port communicates with the inletside joint port through an inlet side inner passage formed in the valvehousing, while an opposite side of the valve port communicates with theoutlet side joint port through an outlet side inner passage formed inthe valve housing, wherein the inlet side inner passage includes a bentpart in the valve housing so that a pressure at the inlet side jointport acts on the valve shaft of the valve element from a lateraldirection of the valve shaft.
 2. A valve device comprising: a valvehousing; an inlet side joint port and an outlet side joint port, bothopened at an outer surface of the valve housing; a first valve port anda second valve port, both formed in the valve housing on the same axishaving a distance therebetween in an axial direction thereof; and avalve element formed in the valve housing including integrally a firstvalve part for opening and closing the first valve port and a secondvalve part for opening and closing the second valve port when the valveelement moves in an axial direction thereof, the valve element includinga valve shaft supported slidably in the axial direction by the valvehousing at one side of the valve element, the valve shaft beingconnected to driving means for driving the valve element, wherein eachone side of the first and second valve ports communicates with the inletside joint port through an inlet side inner passage formed in the valvehousing, while each opposite side of the first and second valve portscommunicates with the outlet side joint port through an outlet sideinner passage formed in the valve housing and the valve element, whereinthe inlet side inner passage includes a bent part so that a pressure atthe inlet side joint port acts on between the first valve part and thesecond valve part of the valve element.
 3. A valve device comprising: avalve housing; an inlet side joint port and an outlet side joint port,both opened at an outer surface of the valve housing; a first valve portand a second valve port, both formed in the valve housing on the sameaxis having a distance therebetween in an axial direction thereof; and avalve element formed in the valve housing including integrally a firstvalve part for opening and closing the first valve port and a secondvalve part for opening and closing the second valve port when the valveelement moves in an axial direction thereof, the valve element includinga valve shaft supported slidably in the axial direction by the valvehousing at one side of the valve element, the valve shaft beingconnected to driving means for driving the valve element, wherein eachone side of the first and second valve ports communicates with the inletside joint port through an inlet side inner passage formed in the valvehousing, while each opposite side of the first and second valve portscommunicates with the outlet side joint port through an outlet sideinner passage formed in the valve housing and the valve element, whereinthe inlet side inner passage includes a by-pass passage so that apressure at the inlet side joint port acts on between the first valvepart and the second valve part of the valve element.